This
ancient temple throws a flood of light on Lord Siva's boundless
mercy, besides revealing the power of bhakti. It is mainly
associated with the life of Sundaramurti Nayanar, and so his icon is
installed in a separate minishrine. According to sthalapurana,
Sundaramurti Nayanar broke the promise of not leaving Sangili
Natchiar, whom he married for the second time and was going to
Tiruvarur. As he did not keep up the word given to Sangili, he lost
the vision of both the eyes, besides developing unbearable bodily
pains. Though he got back the sight of left eye at Kancheepuram and
right eye at Tiruvarur, his physical ailment continued to harass
him. But when he visited this holy kshetra and eulogised the glory
of the Lord in graceful lyrics, he was removed of his bodily pains
once for all. It is said that Lord Siva dwelt here before His
marriage and mastered the Vedas by intensive reading and so Siva is
called Uttara Vedeeswarar since then.